Anita Diamant - The Red Tent

Pros: Compelling, beautifully written, original, completely lovely
Cons: Not a thing

Have you ever stopped to consider what the Bible would be like if it had been written by a woman? If you haven’t, then Diamant’s The Red Tent will make you wish that it had been written by her. Full of sweeping grace, stirring scenery and an ...

Pros: Easy to read, great plots and amazing historical references
Cons: Character names are easy to get confused

I don’t get much time to read a novel. I actually prefer reading magazines. Reason being, I usually don’t have the time in my life to finish reading a 300 page tome. I end up reading 50 pages and never getting back to it. Especially, if it doesn’t...

Pros: Incredibly moving and compelling story.
Cons: The last third of the book begins to drag.

The Red Tent is not the book I expected it to be. I brought high expectations to the book as a trusted friend highly recommended it to me. Despite this, the book still managed to take my breath away in manners unforeseen. More Than a ...

Pros: An interesting story from a woman's perspective rooted in ancient times.
Cons: Can get complicated with the ancient names and is also a bit slow at times.

I felt strongly enough to write about this book for one reason and one reason only... and that is to set forth an old adage that you CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!

Scroll up to the picture of the book at the top of this epinion. I picked...

Pros: Beautifully written, touching, interesting characters, new angle on biblical events
Cons: Scenes of violence, childbirth may be too much for some readers. Ugly cover.

I know I am not alone when I say that most of the depictions of women in the Old Testament are, quite frankly, about as interesting as dirt. The figures who are mentioned in any detail are just a handful of stereotypes: Esther (a Cinderella story),...

Pros: Compelling historical novel striving to reconstruct the story of Dinah, daughter of the patriarch Jacob
Cons: Apt to offend some who take Biblical accounts literally

"Yes, but what of the women?"

Over the centuries, this plea has been uttered by countless women who have sought a reflection of themselves in the sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity. Because these texts were almost...

Pros: Beautiful prose, solid narrative.
Cons: The book had to end!

General comments

Anita Diamant casts a spell on her readers with her poetic prose and strong narrative. The Red Tent follows the story of Dinah, an Old Testament character, and through her voice the story of the women of that era....

Pros: beautiful characters, excellent story, couldn't put down the book
Cons: some violence, sex, goddess worship

By my reckoning, two in the morning is fairly late...or early. After a long day yesterday, I finished up reading this book. It was such a love/hate relationship. After reading half the book, I told my husband I was finished with it. I wasn't going to ...

Pros: New spin on and Old testament Story.
Cons: None!

I recently purchased the book, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. This was a very good read and beautifully written story. I pored through the book in about two and half days. Anita Diamant who is Jewish, decided to write this story from the viewpoint of...

Pros: Female point of view is of its time
Cons: Many characters to keep straight

This book, not biblical, but pre-bible, includes the viewpoint of a woman born to a nomadic family in the faraway times and places of Egypt and the middle east. By Diamant's telling, you can feel the hot sand blow, the herds roam, and you can smell the ...

Pros: Vivid and emotionally provocative.
Cons: Can shift from joy to sorrow in the turn of a page.

The obscure, mournful story of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, is told in the only voice that could truly tell it. Even before her own birth and after her own death, Dinah pours out her story, the stories of her beloved mothers, and the numerous and...

Pros: Original and creative interpretation.
Cons: Writing style.

"The Red Tent" came highly recommended to me by a friend's mother. The woman loved this book. She said it's a "must-read". With a recommendation like that, I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed in this book.

The story is that of Dinah,...

Pros: Biblical History
Cons: This is Diamant's only fictional book

Pros: Excellent plot, neat characters, great historical and mythological references
Cons: Writing a little flat, character development often sketchy

To begin, let me state that I did enjoy this book immensely. I am always thrilled to see women authors approach historical texts and mythological content in ways that recognize the duality of gendered societies. So many historical and religious texts,...

Pros: Very thought provoking, puts the subjects of the Bible in a more human light.
Cons: Would love to keep reading.

I ordered The Red Tent from Amazon based on several lists created by members. So many people picked this book as one of their top ten reads that I thought it had to be good. I wasn't sure what I would think since I don't often read historical novels...